DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel like I'm drowning in my empty home. My kids have all grown up and moved out, leaving a quiet house behind. My husband seems to be married to his work and spends more time at the... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: The tipping culture in the United States is puzzling to me as someone from Japan, where tipping is not customary. In Japan, tips can imply that the employer does not provide adequate w... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: Is it crossing the line if I attend my ex-boyfriend's wedding? We have known each other for 16 years as neighbors. Despite breaking up three years ago, I recently received an invitatio... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m at odds with my teenage son, and it's beginning to strain our relationship. I've firmly stood by the belief that my son should earn and purchase his own vehicle rather than having ... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: During spring break, I visited my boyfriend's hometown, where I met his extended family, known to me through his sister's stories. She had mentioned that most of their older male cousi... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I find myself feeling like a third wheel in my friend group, and it's starting to take a toll on my confidence and sense of belonging. While I value the friendships I have with both of... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have ginger hair and hazel-brown eyes, while my wife is a brunette with brown eyes. Despite our genetics, our 2-year-old child is dark-haired with blue eyes with a speck of green. My... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I find myself in a difficult situation with my father. I recently graduated from college and secured a job, but my father keeps asking me for money. The challenging part is that he did... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a huge falling out with one of my best friends. We hadn’t spoken for about three months until the other day, when we got together to talk. We shed a lot of tears and spoke our mi... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my closest friends recently landed a new job that pays significantly better than the positions held by the rest of our friend group. While I'm genuinely happy for her success, h... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm feeling a bit lost and hurt lately because my sister, who used to be my closest friend, seems to have disappeared since getting into a relationship with her new boyfriend. She's be... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: My family has five women -- four sisters and me -- and it has become a silent tradition that for each sibling's wedding, the next in line serves as the maid of honor.... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: I've recently noticed the stark contrast in how people treat you based on how much you weigh. I used to binge eat excessively, then go days without eating due to overwhelming guilt. De... more
DEAR HARRIETTE: My “nephew” -- my cousin’s son -- is very dear to me. He has autism and sometimes displays violent behavior. Last year, his school recommended that he be transferred to a private insti... more